New Scene()
Narrator: Approaching North Petalburg, Ash and company about to come across… wait… If I told you that, I’d spoil the episode!
Ash and company are walking into a moderately-sized suburban area. Ciri walks at the back of the group, observing the others.
Ciri: So Max got a pokémon now, looks like things are finally going to get interesting around here.
Max looks at the pokénav.
Max: It says that we’re about to arrive in North Petalburg. After that we’re home…
Ciri: And the coming storm…
A bolt of energy sparks in Ciri’s hand, and she smiles mischievously.
May: I can almost smell Mom’s cooking!
Brock: Sorry…
Scene.JumpTo!
Ash and company enter the North Petalburg Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy isn’t in the immediate room, so Brock goes to ring the bell. Meanwhile, Max stares at a picture on the wall.
Max: Is that a picture of…
May: Dad?
Benjy: Looks like Norman to me…
Max: How do you know what he looks like?
Benjy: I’ve seen pictures.
Ciri now rings the bell twice and crouches down below the counter. Ash states that he doesn’t find the picture of the gym leader on a poster particularly weird. Nurse Joy now comes out of the back.
Nurse Joy: Preparing Response. Public String Smiley Voice–String Operation Q.
Ash: Uh, what?
Nurse Joy: Unarchiving face recognition technology.
Ash and Brock stand speechless.
Ash: What happened to Nurse Joy?
Ciri: Someone probably messed with her coding…
Brock: Did you just say…?
Ciri: This one’s a robot.
Ash: Well, I guess if she talks like that…
Brock: A Nurse Joy Robot, never seen one of those before.
Ciri: They’re all robots. Made by Silph I believe.
QST.camera shows Brock’s disappointment in an anime fashion. (Blue streaks and jaw dropping)
Brock: All… Robots…
Ciri: Well, I think they are. Why else do you think they all look the same?
Brock: D-does that mean Officer Jenny–
May nods.
Ciri: Miyaki demagnetized one of those.
Brock begins to be even more depressed, bending over.
Brock: Librarian Kate?
Max: …You didn’t see the screws in her neck?…
Brock: Librarian Jacquelyn?
Max: …Read barcodes without a scanner…
Brock: Firefighter Corrine?
Max: …Doesn’t breathe…
(Brock is now getting desperate)
Brock: Postal Worker Daisy?!
Max: Caught her muttering "Kill all humans" under her breath.
Brock: Laundromat Laura?!?!
Ash: Well the one in Pallet Town needed help with captchas.
Max: Same with the one here.
Brock: Fast-food worker Winda?!?!?!
May: Dad says that’s what they call the air-conditioning system at the Hindenburger.
Brock: I’ve sent love letters to them all, putting my heartfelt feelings into each one…
Narrator: You really have a problem, don’t you.
Brock continues to express his disappointment that the Nurse Joys are actually robots. Meanwhile, Nurse Joy finishes unarchiving and heals the pokémon presented to her.
Nurse Joy: Sorry about that, I’ve got a lot on my mind lately.
Ash: We can see that…
Benjy: Yeah, your underpinnings are showing.
Nurse Joy recognizes May and Max to everyone’s surprise (except possibly Ciri as she’s hiding out of Nurse Joy’s sight and off camera); and asks how May and Max are doing.
May: Well, lets see. I’m a pokémon coordinator now, and…
The door opens and a lady walks in cutting May off.
Lady: Ohmigosh! I can’t believe it!
The lady drops her handbag in astonishment.
Lady: I can’t believe it, it’s really them!
Ash: Really who?
Lady: You!
The lady is looking straight at Max, and Ash knows she’s not looking at him.
Max: You who?
The lady now drops her handbag as she stares at May and Max, mumbling, "Ohmygosh." She then runs out of the pokémon center, leaving her handbag behind. Ash and company all turn to watch her go as the door to the Pokémon Center closes
Ash: Is it just me, or is there something very weird with this town?
Brock: It’s not just you.
Brock looks over to Benjy, relaxing on the couch-bench.
Benjy: Let me think about this.
Benjy doesn’t get much time to think. People quickly stream into the pokémon center to see May and Max. Ash and company look step back towards each other nervously as this process continues. The people swarm around May and Max, wanting autographs and the like. (Someone even asks May to autograph his tongue); May freezes up at the request. Behind her, Max looks overwhelmed.
Max: Uh, Ash, May?
Jirachi pokes it’s head out of Max’s backpack.
Max: Jirachi, please get us out of here!
Jirachi: Out?
Jirachi smiles.
Jirachi: Okay!
Ash and company disappear in a psychic_teleport animation. People look around in confusion as the camera zooms out.
Nurse Joy: All right everyone!! The shows over, now get out!
New Scene()
Ash and company arrive by teleport about a block away, and all look around.
Ash: Was that–?
Max: Jirachi.
The crowd now begins to pour out of the pokémon center. Ash and company start to run, but a crowd is coming at them from the other direction too, trapping them. Someone with the local news station approaches them.
Newscaster: Is this thing on–BREEP!
The newscaster looks embarrassed at the malfunction; everyone holds their heads from the noise. The newscaster now attempts to start the interview.
Newscaster: This is Eric Ericson with North Petalburg News, standing with us today, is May Tennyson herself. She looks pretty nervous, but I’m sure that’s just temporary. First question, May, wh–
Crazy_Fan1: CAN YOU AUTOGRAPH MY TOUNGE?!
May steps backwards as someone grabs the the fan by the ear and drags him into the crowd.
Brock: So it’s not just me…
Newscaster: Anyway–
Crazy_Fan2: Are you single?!
Looking around, the question appears to have come from a girl in the crowd, roughly fourteen.
May: You don’t mean…
May turns as another fan pushes through Ash and company towards May.
Crazy_Fan3: Excuse me, but your eyes sparkly like Alwyn, fairy-queen of Hypathia. I implore you to be my bride.
#Reference to a nerd pick-up line in a Garfield™ Book
Shocked, May takes a step behind Benjy.
Crazy_Fan3: And what demon I fight to claim my princess? Take this, fist of fury!!!
The overweight and out of shape fan punches at Benjy; the Millennium Gameboy Glows, easily deflecting the blow with a barrier, stunning the fan. But May’s new position opens her up to a whole new group of suitors (both male and female). She steps behind Ash trying to get away, which now places her near the cameraman again.
The cameraman now asks May what ribbons she has, which May reluctantly decides to show him, with the only other foreseeable option to face her fans again. May hands her ribbon case nervously to the newscaster who shows it to the crowd, then hands it back, asking May about her ribbons.
Also (slightly) interested in May’s traveling companions, the newscaster’s assistant asks Ash what he’s up to, and Ash is much more willing to show his badges to the camera. The cameraman’s assistant looses interest once he learns that Ash is planning on challenging Norman, dismissing the endeavor as futile, much to Ash’s chagrin.
By now, the crowd has becomes so excited that they push Benjy and Ash out of the crowd as they try to get to May and Max. Ash is more than a little pissed.
New Scene()
Team Rocket are flying their balloon low over the city, about 300 meters behind Ash and company. Meowth is watching Ash through a telescope.
Jessie: This is a nice little town.
James: Except it's not exactly little…
A passing Skiploom brushes Meowth's arm and bumps the telescope just enough to make it face a giant poster of Norman and Caroline.
Meowth: Huh?
James: Something wrong?
Meowth: Check this out?
Jessie and James take turn looking through the telescope at the poster, although the poster is big enough to see without the telescope.
James: Odd…
Jessie: Isn't that Norman and Caroline?
James: It appears to be…
At this point, a monkey on the rooftop of a building (wearing a shirt with Norman's picture) throws a dart at Team Rocket's balloon. As soon as the dart hits the balloon pops, causing Team Rocket's basket to come crashing to the ground, leaving them on the sidewalk in a cloud of dust.
As Team Rocket dust themselves off, the dart lands in the basket of the balloon, startling them.
Meowth: A dart?!
James: Someone threw a dart at us?!
Jessie bends down and picks up the dart, examining it carefully.
Jessie: This dart…
Meowth: What about it?
James: Please tell us?
Jessie: Has a picture of Norman!
Meowth: Just like the billboard…
James notices something and points upwards. QST.camera shifts to whatever Team Rocket point out.
James: And the T-Shirts in the window!
Meowth: And the picture on those mugs!
Jessie: And the statue in the fountain!
(The statue in the fountain is of Norman and Caroline, with a Granbull at Norman's side. The statue of Caroline is dressed like a biker with a helmet, and has a large motorcycle-like thing next to her)
James: And the decorations on the panties…
James points upwards to a clothes line dangling about the street.
Meowth: It's like they worship him…
At this point, a man wearing a T-shirt with Norman's picture notices the crashed balloon, and causally approaches Team Rocket.
Man: Are you guys okay?
James: We're alright.
Man: Ok then.
With this, the man walks away.
Jessie: Tsk, this makes me so mad. They should be worshipping us!
Meowth: That gives me an idea.
James: How do you change the minds of so–
James cuts himself off as he and Jessie both appear to realize something.
Meowth: You get it now?
Jessie: Okay, if I'm Norman…
Meowth: No, no, Norman is a man, James should be Norman.
James: Okay…
Jessie: Then who am I.
Meowth: You're Caroline. I'll be May.
Jessie: You a loli?
Meowth: I'll wow them with my Kawaii Desu charm!
Jessie: What do you think, James?
James's eyes turn to poké-dollar signs.
James: If we pull this off, we'll be rich!
New Scene()
Benjy and Ash walk down an empty street. Ash fumes as he follows Benjy.
Ash: No hope, eh?
Benjy: Wishful thinking on their part.
Benjy now turns back and looks over his shoulder.
Benjy: I’m just a bit concerned…
Ash: About them?
Benjy: If May lets that attention go to her head, she’s going come crashing down when reality rears it’s own.
Ash: And if it doesn’t?
Benjy: That means you’re implying that she wouldn’t be defeated again.
Ash: Okay, fine.
Ash: Not possible. (mumble)
Benjy and Ash continue to walk in silence for ~10 seconds (real time)
Benjy: What I want to know is why this town is so Norman-holic.
Ash: That’s why we’re headed to the library?
Benjy nods.
Ash: I guess I'm a little curious too. Gym leaders tend to have fan clubs, but I haven't seen anything like this.
Ash and Benjy have now reached the library, a tall building located at the top of a nearly 40º set of steps, about six feet high. Ash follows Benjy up the steps.
New Scene()
Ash and Benjy enter the library.
Ash: Librarian Jacquelyn?
They wait for a half-minute (story time), but there is no reply.
Ash: …And I’m guessing that she’s part of the crowd.
Benjy walks towards the terminal.
Benjy: It’s okay. The computer will suffice for a simple search.
At the terminal, Benjy types in "Norman." The computer displays "over 9000" entries, and Benjy types in "obsession." This limits the search and Benjy writes some call numbers down, including one from a psychological journal, but Ash starts to look bored.
Ash: Hey Benjy, how long?
Benjy: Not sure…
Ash: Could you meet me at the park when you're done here?
Benjy nods.
Benjy: OK.
Benjy finishes looking up call numbers just as Ash leaves the building. From here, Benjy goes to the shelves to look for one of the books, and finds it and sits down and opens it.
Benjy: Here we are. It says here Norman saved the town from a… get this… "unspeakable evil." It doesn’t say how.
Yami Benjy: Unspeakable evil?
Benjy skims through the book.
Benjy: I guess they aren’t going to say what happened.
Yami Benjy: That’s what it means to be "unspeakable."
Benjy returns the book to the shelf and goes looking for another.
Revert Scene()
Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet emerge from a shop dressing room dressed like Caroline, Norman, May, and Max respectively. The shop keeper nearly has a heart attack as he sees them.
Shop Keeper: How did you get here?!
James: Flu powder.
Shop Assistant: People still use that?
Shop Keeper: Quick call the news!
With this, Team Rocket walk out of the shop and into the square where they wonder aloud what's going to happen to them.
Jessie: Do you think we'll be treated as gods?
James: At least the level of demigods!
Meowth: They'll be a catered banquet fit for a king!
Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!
Meowth kicks Wobbuffet.
Meowth: Quiet, you. You'll give us away!
Wobbuffet: Wobbu… (quiet)
Already, heads are turning, as people can't (or simply don’t care to) tell the difference. An elderly woman on the sidewalk start to turn white:
Elderly Woman: I thought I'd never see the day that the prophet Norman returned!
With this the woman faints, into someone else arms.
Woman: Quick! We need smellingsalts!
Man: Prophet Norman! Use your miraculous healing powers to heal her!
This request takes James a bit by surprise, however he allows himself to be led over to the woman, and upon touching her, the woman regains consciousness. The woman starts to say something, but she can't be heard as the crowd erupts into applause.
Woman: It's a miracle!
As the crowd cheers, an old man approaches Meowth, catching him off guard.
Old Man: What are you doing here?"
Meowth flinches and starts to sweat, unsure of how to answer, but then hears praise for "Prophet Norman" in the distance.
Meowth: The prophecy says that today is day to return, desu~!
The old man seems not convinced.
Old Man: And what is with Max, he seems…
Meowth grabs Wobbuffet by the arm.
Meowth: It's part of the prophecy. Remember, this is the color of Saradomin! Desu~!
The old man stares is disbelief.
Meowth: I am such a good liar.
Note to compiler: The prophecy is real and will become important later: Caroline is a descendent from Yoko or Gurren Lagann, and (one of many) heirs to the Spiral Legacy. Norman is helping to contain this power.
Revert Scene()
Ciri is still with May and Max, looking a bit queasy. The crowd has cleared a circle around the three of them.
May: You want to see silver wind?
The crowd cheers.
May: Ciri? (whisper)
Ciri: I don't see any harm… (whisper)
Taking up her performance stance, May calls on Beautifly:
May: Alright Beautifly! Dazzle them with silver wind!
Beautifly flies into the air and gusts silver wind down on to the crowd, which goes wild and almost stampedes May, blocked only by one of Ciri's barriers.
Fan0: Again! Again!
Fan1: The way you did it in your contest!
Ciri: She didn’t use silver wind in the contest though!
Everyone turns to look at Ciri, who suddenly starts shaking.
Ciri: D-didn't you guys w-watch it?
Fan2: Did you tape it?!
Ciri: I-I didn't…
Fan3: Show us the videotape!
Fans: Show the tape! Show the tape!
Ciri backs up slowly, shaking her head and holding up her hands, as if she's trying to explain something, but Ciri can't be heard over the roar of the crowd.
Crowd: Show the tape! Show the tape! Show the tape! (chant)
Ciri: I didn't think to–
Suddenly, Ciri starts shaking violently, a fact which the crowd ignores, but is picked up by May and Max.
Max: May, Ciri’s about to–
May gasps.
May: Skitty!
Skitty emerges from it's ball and draws the attention of the crowd as Max reaches Ciri, who is starting to regain her composure. Ciri quickly sits down with her hands behind her, breathing heavily.
Max: Ciri–
Ciri: Fine now…
In front of them (and a bit to the west), Skitty paws at the air and the crowd goes wild. QST.camera now shifts to where Brock watches all this from outside the crowd, and at the same time a little man suddenly races up the street.
Man: Everyone! Everyone!
The crowd barely seems to notice.
Man: Norman and his entire family have arrived!
The crowd stares in disbelief.
Man: The prophecy has come too! Max has turned the color of Saradomin!
Fan4: But they're right here!
Man: And they're here too! They're everywhere!
Second man: And they're signing autographs!
The crowd goes wild and takes off from around May, Max, and Ciri, leaving the three standing and sitting in the street.
May: Ciri, what's going on?
Ciri: I have no idea. I just know that your folks avoid this town like the plague, and I think I'm starting to see why…
New Scene()
Ash is walking through the park in North Petalburg with Pikachu on his shoulder.
Brock's voice: Hey Ash.
Ash appears slightly startled.
Ash: Brock! What happened?
Brock: Same thing as you, those guys cut me off from May and Max… I worry though…
Ash: They don't seem to be bad guys…
Brock: I know, but… Where's Benjy?
Ash: He's still in the library I think. Trying to figure out why this town is the way it is.
Brock strokes his chin thoughtfully.
Brock: You know, that's not a bad idea. We should probably join him.
Ash: I just came from there, though… Brock?
Ash turns his attention to Brock, who is looking across the park at a pair of pokémon trainers walking towards them.
Trainer[0]: Hey, which one of you is Ash?
Ash raises his hand.
Ash: That's me!
Trainer[1]: Then what's this about wanting to challenge Norman?
This comment seems to make Brock nervous.
Ash: Yeah, I've come to battle him for the balance badge!
Trainer[1]: One does not simply just challenge Norman.
Ash: What do you mean?
Trainer[0]: You have to go though his fans first!
Ash: Fine by me!
Brock: Ash, be careful–
Trainer[0]: You're about to eat those words, kid!
Ash: Kid, you're the same age I am!
Trainer[0]: Anyone who wants to challenge Norman is a light-year younger than me!
#Reference to the Pewter City gym trainer in Pokémon Firered/Leafgreen
Ash: We'll see about that! Treecko!
Trainer[0]: Golduck!
Brock: Alright, I'm going to be the referee then.
Trainer[0] barely gives Brock time to get out of the way.
Trainer[0]: Golduck! Focus punch!
Golduck makes a fist, and starts focusing on the fist.
Brock: Ash–
Ash: Dodge it!
Golduck zips at Treecko, who leaps 8 feet in the air to avoid the blow.
Trainer[0]: Hydro pump!
Ash: Agility!
Golduck charges water, and fires hydro pump as Treecko lands. Treecko hits the ground running with agility and hydro pump misses. From here, Golduck repeatedly tries to attack Treecko, but misses each time.
Ash: Treecko, bullet seed!
Treecko shoots bullet seed at Golduck, although most seem to miss due to the fact that Treecko has a hard time aiming while moving.
Trainer[0]: Confusion!
Ash: Quick attack!
Quick attack gets Treecko out of the range of confusion, and a split-second later Treecko collides with Golduck, who squawks.
Trainer[0]: Seismic toss!
Golduck hurls Treecko into the air.
Trainer[0]: Now focus punch!
Ash: Bullet Seed!
As Golduck starts to use focus punch, it looses it's focus and is unable to attack. Suddenly Golduck seems to take a critical hit, and crashes to the ground unconscious.
Brock: Golduck is unable to battle, Treecko wins.
Treecko lands on his (Treecko's) feet.
Trainer[0]: What the…
Trainer[0] pulls out a poké ball, and recalls Golduck.
Trainer[1]: I'll show you how it's done.
Trainer[0]: Grr, I'm not done yet!
Trainer[1]: He's not all talk…
Ash: …
Trainer[1]: Just mostly talk. Go, Pachirisu!
Trainer[1] throws a poké ball, and a Pachirisu emerges. Ash takes out his Pokédex.
Ash's Pokédex: Pachirisu. Information on this pokémon is proprietary and not available in standard mode. To get information on this pokémon, and many others, please consider upgrading to premium pokédex mode. Premium mode can be obtained free with a subscription to–
Ash puts the pokédex away.
Trainer[1]: Not going to help you. Pachirisu's a special pokémon from the Sinnoh region.
Ash: Sinnoh…
Trainer[1]: Pachirisu, thund–
Brock: Hold on!
Ash and Trainer[1] both turn to see that Ash's desire to challenge Norman has drawn a crowd in and of itself as Brock zips about trying to organize them into a line. While most of these trainers (mix of boys and girls, some young adults) are of the impression that Ash needs to be put into his place, not everyone seems to know what's going on.
Little Kid: I like pie.
Trainer[1]: This is taking too long, Pachirisu–
Pachirisu crackles with electricity.
Pachirisu: Pachi–pachi!
Trainer[1]: Pachirisu–
At this moment, the figurative dam breaks and everyone in line seems to call on their pokémon all at once, with a large number of Lombre, Ludicolo, and Nuzleaf, leaving Ash startled. All start to charge attacks at their trainer's commands.
Ash: !
Ash: Treecko, get back! Pikachu–
QST.camera focuses on Ash as he rapidly turns his pose around. QST.camera then zooms to distance of 40 meters from Ash:
Ash: Thunder!
The result is a powerful explosion. As the blast clears, QST.camera zooms in to where it's revealed that a number of the pokémon, although less than half, have been knocked out. Ash's clothes are soiled, as is Pikachu's fur, due to the debris kicked up in the explosion.
Brock: Ash…
Ash: I'm alright!
Brock: Be careful–
New Scene()
Benjy is walking down the street, towards the park with Satolite riding on his head. Seeing the battles from a distance, Benjy hesitates.
Benjy: What's going on?
As if without thinking, Benjy starts walking towards the park, and the breaks into a run.
New Scene()
Ash is panting with Pikachu on his shoulder, and Brock looking on in amazement as comes running. Ash sees Benjy out of the corner of his eyes.
Ash: Benjy!
Benjy waves.
Ash: Benjy, these guys don’t give up. (Panting)
Benjy: What happened?
Woman[0]: Blasphemy!
Man[0]: He want's to destroy the prophecy!
Ash: I don't understand.
Woman[0]: Challenging Norman is an affront to our sacred code.
The Millennium Gameboy Advance pulses with light.
Yami Benjy: Sacred code?
Misc Person[0]: He's a heretic!
Misc Person[1]: Burn him!
Misc Person[2]: Burn the heretic!
Brock: This is madness!
Man's voice: Madness?
Suddenly, a man clad in spartan armor bursts forth from the crowd, and brandishes a sword at Ash.
Man: THIS IS SPARTA!!!
The man spits as he speaks, and Ash is quick to wipe the spit off his (Ash's) face.
Yami Benjy: I think you're in the wrong place. This is North Petalburg City.
Man: How sure are you?
Yami Benjy: Five sigma.
Man: Zark.
The man's zeal slips, and he walks away dragging his sword and shield.
Misc Person[3]: He's still a heretic!
Woman[0]: Teach him a lesson!
Misc Trainer1: I think he's learned.
Ash: Lesson?
Ash: What lesson…? Oh–
Ash's blunder infuriates the crowd further.
Brock: Ash, shut up!
Ash: No, you shut up!
Brock: Ash, shut up!
Ash: No, you shut up!
Brock: Ash, shut up!
Ash: No, you shut up!
Benjy snaps his fingers and Satolite sparks, which shuts Ash and Brock's argument.
Misc Trainer1: See, he gets it.
Brock: We should best be going.
Crowd: Burn the heretic!
With this, an entire volley of pokéballs is thrown. In response, Satolite flies off of Benjy’s head, and sparks. One of the trainers orders a Magcargo to use flamethrower on Satolite. Satolite doesn’t wait for instruction, but sparks and summons a massive lightning bolt to strike their ground, causing a massive explosion. As the dust clears, Magcargo is knocked out. Satolite has shielded itself with mirror force, and is undamaged. The Magcargo’s trainer quickly recalls it.
Magcargo’s Trainer: Sick our Norman on him!
The man then takes off running while his peers look on. Much to Ash's dismay, Brock and Yami Benjy step between him and the crowd.
Crowd: Burn the heretic! Burn the heretic!
Brock: Uh… We kinda don't to that anymore…
Brock turns to Yami Benjy.
Yami Benjy: This doesn’t look good…
Misc Person[4]: We need torches!
Misc Person[5]: Torches and pitchforks!
Misc Person[6]: Tar and feathers!
Misc Person[7]: You heard the man, lets have our Norman handle it!
With this, the crowd cheers.
Brock: What’s he going to do? You mean like sick the real Norman on Ash?
Yami Benjy: I’m thinking giant robo-Norman…
Brock: They’re not Team Rocket you know…
Yami Benjy: But they’re just as messed up in the head.
Brock looks at Benjy with disbelief.
Brock: Well, I guess it’s not impossible… But do you really think they’ed…
Brock is cut off by a giant stomping sound.
Narrator: But that’s impossible!!!
New Scene()
May, Max, and Ciri are now sitting at the tables outside one of the cafés. As they sit, a boy approaches them.
Boy: Hey, Ciri…
Ciri: Eliezer.
Boy → Eliezer: I haven't seen the two of you in this town before.
Eliezer gestures at May and Max, then swallows.
Max: Huh?
Eliezer: People are saying that your parents are in town.
May: They are?
Max: Where?
A news truck has now rolled up and the reporters quickly emerge and start taking tons of pictures.
Eliezer: And they’re signing autographs!
May: Mom and dad are signing autographs?
Eliezer: That's the word on the street.
Ciri: We're being careful. We were just ambushed by a mob of fans.
Eliezer: You're always careful. Well I've got to go.
With this, Eliezer zips off.
May: Mom and dad are signing autographs?!
Reporter: You're going, aren't you?
Ciri: He's pretty reliable, but something makes me uneasy.
The reporters quickly and haphazardly throw their equipment in the truck with a crash.
Max: Something always makes you uneasy.
Ciri: True.
Ciri puts her hand to her chin thoughtfully, but the reporters use this pause to scoop up May and Max and put them in the back of their truck, and take off down the street after the crowd.
May: Ciri!!!
As the truck drives away, Ciri jumps to her feet, nearly tripping over the chair and darts off after the truck. After she leaves, the table she was sitting at topples over with a crash. QST.camera then zooms after Ciri.
Ciri: I'm coming!
Refresh Scene()
The truck drives crazily around corners as the reporters rush to follow the crowd. QST.camera now zips backwards to where Ciri is hot on it’s trail riding Flygon at roughly 25 feet in the air.
Ciri: Zarking (bleep)holes!
As the truck lurches around a curve, it nearly tips over and thus nearly ejects May and Max. However, it does actually eject May’s Skitty. As May reaches for it, she misses and Skitty flies out into the air with a loud "Meow!" The truck now has finished the turn and starts zipping away.
May: Wait–STOP!!!
Now several yards behind them, Ciri manages to catch Skitty–which the assistant reporter catches on film–before continuing to chase after the truck with the assistant still snapping pictures, only to lose interest when Ciri and Flygon get caught in a telephone line. Ciri is zapped as she struggles to free herself, but by now the truck is out of sight.
Ciri: Truckload of morons…
New Scene()
In the diagram below, the large dark-gray squares are buildings, the light-gray is the streets and the blue is the fountain. May, Max, and the reporters arrived from the bottom of the picture. The large white octagon represents the reporters’ truck, and the small white octagon represents an elderly man.
May, Max, and the reporters arrive with a screeching halt at a quiet area near a fountain in the middle of the city. Both May and Max look sick to their stomachs from the ride, and the reporters bolt out of their vehicle.
Reporter: Where’d he go?!
Reporter’s Assistant: What happened?
The reporters quickly size up the situation and run around examining all the trash strew all over the street, they quickly discover an elderly man with a cane still present and rush up to him.
Reporter’s Assistant: Sir! What happened here?
Reporter: Did you see which way Norman went?
The old man starts to put in his dentures.
Reporter: Quickly sir, there’s no time to lose!
The man now points in the direction of the park and the reporters rush back to their vehicle. Seeing this, May, Max, and their pokémon jump out, leaving the truck to zoom away down the street.
May: They drive worse than Aunt Ruth…
A wind blows past May and Max, towards the fountain (from the direction from which they came) and May and Max turn around to see Ciri land Flygon, with both of them panting. Ciri quickly produces Skitty, who jumps into May’s arms with a loud "Nyah!"
Ciri: Are you guys okay?
Max: The question should be if you are okay!
QST.camera now turns to Ciri who is crackling with electricity.
Ciri: Well I can’t move my little finger… Oh wait, there it goes.
Ciri moves her finger slightly as she says this.
Old Man: You kids misses all the excitement!
Max: They said Norman was here signing autographs?
Old Man: Yup, and his kids too! The whole family.
May and Max look at each other nervously. May strokes Skitty and then recalls it.
Max: Whole family?
Old Man: Yup! They went a-that-a-way.
The old man points.
Old Man: If you hurry, you might be able to catch them!
Ciri: You guys stay here, I sense trouble.
Max: You’re not going alone, Ciri.
Old Man: No need to be like that…
Ciri now begins to look *slightly* irritated.
Ciri: You said that it was the whole family?
Old Man: Yup, he even brought the children!
Max: But we’re Norman’s children!
The old Man stares hard at Max, while May shivers.
Old Man: Well my eyesight might not be what it used to be, but it looks like some kind of impostors are around here. I’ll have to admit I was a bit suspicious when they said Max's blue skin was from the prophecy…
May, Max, and Ciri are all shown to emit a "?"
May: You think they replaced us? (horrified)
Ciri: Impossible.
Ciri: Albeit stranger things have happened…
Max doesn’t appear to Ciri’s comment.
Max: That does it! If they really replace us, then they’re going to pay! Jirachi!
Jirachi pokes it’s head out of Max’s backpack.
Ciri: Calm down!
Max: Let’s go!
Max takes off running, and Ciri and May chase after him. As they run down the street, the old man is seen smiling and waving behind them.
Old Man: I feel like I forgot something…
Suddenly the old man calls out:
Old Man: Wait! CAN I GET YOUR AUTOGRAPHS?!
May, Max, and Ciri don’t turn around.
Old Man: Fiddlesticks…
New Scene()
At the park, Brock’s jaw drops as a giant (50-foot-tall) robotic Norman comes walking towards the park.
Brock: Why couldn’t you be right about something else, like the weather…
Yami Benjy: I just… That was an example…
The giant Norman takes another step and the ground shakes.
New Scene()
Inside the robot, Jessie and James (disguised as Norman and Caroline) look at each other.
James: What do giants say?
Revert Scene()
Giant Norman Robot: Fee Fi Fo Fum. Who is it that dareth challenge me, the great Norman!
Ash, Brock, and Benjy stare at the robot all speechless. A boy (somewhere between 9 and 12) now runs up to Ash.
Boy: This guy right here!
Giant Norman Robot: *chuckles* One does not simply challenge the great Norman!
#Meme_Reference "One does not simply…"
This comment is met with a chorus of applause from spectators around the area, giving Ash, Brock, and Yami Benjy the chance to look around, and only now do they realize how deep the crowd is.
Benjy: Even if we wanted to run, we couldn’t!
Giant Norman Robot: This is what happens to those foolish enough to try.
Ash, Brock, and Yami Benjy stand dumbstruck as the robot, takes two steps forwards to a point where it somewhat obscures the sunlight, then lifts its foot and slowly starts to stomp down on the horrified group. The MGBA creates a golden barrier as the robot does so, but the robot still stomps down.
New Scene()
May, Max, and Ciri have now arrived at the edge of the crowd, and can see the giant Norman robot in the distance.
Max: What the zark is that thing!
May: Max! Language! And what’s it doing?
Some people turn around as May says Max’s name aloud.
Ciri: That’s definitely not…
Max: Ciri! What are we going to do?!
Ciri: Shouldn’t be too difficult. They say that bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?
Revert Scene()
As the giant Norman Robot removes it’s foot, people gasp in amazement to see that Ash, Brock, and Benjy haven’t been stomped flat. Yami Benjy’s golden shield fades somewhat as the robot retracts it’s foot. The shield is revealed to have created a sphere that was pushed into the ground somewhat, but those inside it are unharmed.
Brock: That’s a serious breach of conduct as Gym Leader…
Yami Benjy: Norman’s not inside.
Brock: Benjy, in its eye… It is Norman!
Yami Benjy stares up at the robot’s "eye," here, "Norman" can be seen working the controls.
New Scene()
Inside the robot, Jessie, James, and Meowth (in disguise) stare down at Ash, Brock, and Benjy below.
Norman(James): Hey, you guys, those those look like the twerps to you?
Caroline(Jessie): Meowth take a closer look.
Meowth obliges, and pulls out a telescope to look down at group below.
Meowth: I can’t tell, we’re too high up!
Caroline(Jessie): Move over, let me see.
Jessie quickly swipes the telescope from Meowth.
Caroline(Jessie): I can’t make it out either. Jame–I mean Norman, what do you think
James is handed the telescope by Jessie and proceeds to stare through the telescope at Ash, Brock, and Yami Benjy.
Norman(James): Lets see. I see a standard twerp, a big twerp, and a strange kid with a glowing necklace…
James pauses briefly.
Norman(James): And is that Pikachu?
Caroline(Jessie): Pikachu?
Meowth: Luckily I prepared just the thing!
James urgently points out that they’re disguised as Norman, and that if they try to steal Pikachu now then they are going to blow their cover. Meowth tells him not to worry, and that they have a solution.
Revert Scene()
Yami Benjy: That’s an impostor running that machine.
Brock: You sure about that?
Yami Benjy: A wise guy once said, "Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see."
This comment confuses Ash and Brock, but they don’t have much time to think before the Robot Norman’s loudspeaker comes on. Ash and Brock flinch at the noise:
Machine.loudspeaker: Foolish mortals. For daring to challenge the great prophet Norman you have threatened the prophecy!
Machine.loudspeaker (Jessie's voice): And as punishment, your pokémon will now be confiscated.
Ash: What?!
Without warning, a robotic arm promptly extends from the backside of the giant robot, quickly snaking around and heading straight for Pikachu. In a split-second action, Yami Benjy darts forwards, activating his blade mittens, and with a single slashing motion, cuts the hand off of the robot arm, shocking Team Rocket inside their robot while the crowd gasps.
Yami Benjy: That’s not Norman in there.
Ciri: I’ve come to the same conclusion.
Yami Benjy, Ash, and Brock turn around to see Ciri land Flygon behind them.
Yami Benjy: The only question is, who do we know that likes to dress up and try to steal Pikachu?
Narrator: And the answer should be obvious…
Ash appears to think for a moment, while Brock face-palms.
Narrator: Looks like Brock knows the answer.
Ash: You’re Team Rocket!
Ash: Pikachu, thunderbolt.
The crowd gasps as Pikachu sparks and looses a massive electric charge which strikes the robot, electrifying it. While the robot doesn’t explode, it does appear to loose power. The robot then slowly starts to fall, before promptly collapsing into a heap of smoldering debris while the crowd gasps. A snapping noise comes from Ciri’s hand as she prepares to cast magic.
Ciri: And this wouldn’t be the first time someone’s tried to impersonate him.
QST.camera now moves from the group to May and Max running across the park’s field towards the rest of them. As they approach the robot, Team Rocket emerges from the robot’s debris, still in disguise, while May and Max stop to watch.
May: Mom? Dad?
Norman(James): *groans*
Ash, Benjy, Brock, and Ciri now gather a ways behind May and Max.
Caroline(Jessie): …
May(Meowth): These are my parents! Who are you?!
Jessie and James are still a bit too stunned to respond. May starts walking towards Meowth.
May: You’re supposed to be me?
Max: And you’re supposed to be me?
May stares squarely at Meowth and Max stares squarely at Wobbuffet.
Max(Wobbuffet): Wobbu?
Norman(James): These are my kids, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.
May(Meowth): Yeah, I’m the real May!
May: What an idiot.
May now extends her arm holding out a poké ball.
May: Then lets see you prove it!
Norman(James): You’re not laying a hand on my child!
The crowd gasps.
May: Let’s go Torchic!
Norman(James): Then go, Cacnea!
Starting to battle, Cacnea and Torchic emerge from their poké balls while some people in the crowd whisper that Norman usually uses normal-types. James has Cacnea use pin missile on Torchic (which it does after jumping on him), and May has Torchic burn away these with ember. The crowd oohs and ahs seeing this.
Norman(James): Cacnea! Needle arm!
Cacnea shoots towards Torchic.
May: Jump and use ember!
Torchic jumps aside as Cacnea strikes where it was, releasing a series of embers that burn Cacnea.
Norman(James): Jump!
Cacnea now leaps into the air, striking Torchic with needle arm, which appears to stun it as well as inflicting moderate damage.
May: Ember! Ember!! Ember!!!
Norman(James): Cacnea, pin missile!
Cacnea: Cacnee–
Before Cacnea can launch pin missile, Torchic fires a barrage of embers at Cacnea, forcing the grass pokémon to stop it’s attack to protect itself.
May: MOAR ember!
Torchic fires more fire at Cacnea, until the point where Torchic releases a massive ball of fire, striking Cacnea and knocking it to the ground, having taken serious damage. Torchic lands in front of May; and appears a bit dazed, but more or less okay.
Refresh Scene()
Max meanwhile faces Wobbuffet.
Max: …And it’s about time you started talking!
Max(Wobbuffet): Wobbu?
Caroline(Jessie): Get away from my child! Seviper! Poison tail!
Max and Max(Wobbuffet) both look up as Seviper swings it’s poison tail at Max, who is quickly teleported out of the way, back to where May is. Someone in the crowd mutters something about Caroline and duel spirits.
Caroline(Jessie): …
Jirachi now levitates out of Max’s backpack.
Caroline(Jessie): I’m not going to let a twerp like you ruin this, Dustox!
Max: Jirachi!
Jirachi: Ready!
Caroline(Jessie): Seviper, poison tail! Dustox, silver wind!
Norman(James): Cacnea, needle arm!
Cacnea struggles to get up.
Max: Psychic! (said as "Psy…chic!")
None of Team Rocket’s pokémon are actually able to launch their attacks, as psychic strikes them too quickly. (QST.camera switches to a rear-view of Team Rocket to show psychic hitting them with a field of white light, and mostly obscuring them. When Team Rocket is roughly 70% obscured, QST.camera reverts to it’s previous position); Team Rocket is knocked off their feet with a massive force, which also shreds their disguise. With this QST.camera goes into a five-way split-screen of Ash and company. (Yami Benjy is not shown in this split-screen)
Ash: I knew it…
Yami Benjy: Told you so (to Brock)
James: You think that’s all it will take to defeat the great Norman?!
Meowth: James! Our disguises are gone!
James looks down at his clothes.
James: What?!
Ciri: I’ve had just about enough of this! (angry)
Jessie: And just what is someone like you going to do about this?
Ciri: I have two words for you! (angry)
James: And what could that be? (condescending)
Max: Don’t do it, Ciri!
Ciri holds out her arm so that her hand is straight and her palm is facing Team Rocket.
Ciri: Tesserum Novas.
James: And what does that mean? (confused, no longer condescending)
Suddenly, out of nowhere something makes a clicking sound, which is followed by the biggest explosion in Trigamon (so far)! Team Rocket’s robot ignites in a gigantic ball of fire which encompasses most of the park. This explosion is seen from 3 or 4 (depending on episode runtime) different angles before we shift to what Ash and company are seeing:
New Scene()
QST.camera shows something similar to what Ash and company are seeing. The remains of Team Rocket’s Norman robot explode in a massive fireball that encompasses the area all around where Ash and company are standing, with the only thing protecting them being a thin barrier that Ciri appears to be holding in place.
Max: CIRI!
Still keeping her hand in the same position, Ciri looks back and winks at Max.
May: The barrier spell!
Max: You managed the barrier spell?!
Ash and Brock look at each other, dumbstruck, but by now the fire and debris from the explosion is starting to fade, and Ciri lets the barrier down. In the sky, Team Rocket blasts out of QST.camera’s vision.
New Scene()
Team Rocket is flying through the air.
Meowth: I thought we agreed to make all our machines shock-proof from now on?
Jessie: That have been an issue if you had been a more convincing May!
Jessie turns to Wobbuffet.
Jessie: And you a better Max!
James: Jessie, I think it’s a little late for that?
Jessie: Huh?
Jessie looks down.
Jessie/James/Meowth: We’re blasting off again!
Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!
Team Rocket again blasts out of QST.camera’s reference frame, leaving a spec of light in the sky.
Revert Scene()
Ash and company stand staring in the direction where Team Rocket was thrown by the explosion, when people begin to approach them, commending May and Max on the battle.
May: It was nothing…
Brock: Uh… May…
May now turns around to see the crowd of probably 1500 people moving towards them and chills run down her spine. Max also flinches, then turns to Jirachi.
Max: Jirachi! Teleport us!
Jirachi doesn't respond, and Max quickly realizes that Jirachi is asleep. Suddenly, the crowd breaks into a run, panicking Ash and company, who also now start to flee the park towards Petalburg. As the group runs away, Ash look back to see that the crowd. While still cheering for them the crowd is no longer chasing them. Ash waves back as he continues to run.
New Scene()
Ash and company race down the streets of North Petalburg towards the city limit.
Max: Ciri, do it! Cause an explosion! Cause a diversion!
Ciri: There’s nothing else I can blow up!
Max: There’s always something to blow up!
Ciri: I mean I’m out of runes!
Suddenly something appears to zip past Ash and company, faster than can be seen clearly, but Pikachu appears to notice it, while everyone else is running as fast as they can.
…///To Be Continued///…